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FROSTED METEOR SMOKE ABOVE THE HEAT DOME: Europe is currently under a record-setting heat dome with temperatures exceeding 109 F. What's above the heat dome? Frosted meteor smoke. Laura Kranich photographed the icy phenomenon from Berlin, Germany, at daybreak on June 23rd:
These are noctilucent clouds (NLCs). They form when summertime plumes of water vapor rise to the edge of space and crystallize around the remains of disintegrated meteors. The water vapor is lofted by--you guess it--heat.
"It was an amazingly bright display," says Kranich. " The NLCs first appeared a bit before local midnight, intensifying in the early morning hours. With a significant heatwave going on in central and southwestern Europe, at least some sleepless nights can be enjoyed by watching the night sky."
more images: from Marek Nikodem of Szubin, Poland; from Alan Dyer of Gleichen, Alberta, Canada
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A LARGE SUNSPOT IS COMING: Europe's Solar Orbiter can see something we can't: A large sunspot on the farside of the sun. For the past three days, the distant research spacecraft has been watching the sunspot approach the farside's edge:
When it reaches the dashed line labeled 270o, the sunspot will become visible from Earth and enter our planet's "strike zone." ETA: Two days. Then, any flares it produces will be felt here.
Interestingly, the sunspot has not yet produced any strong flares, according to Solar Orbiter's onboard X-ray detector. It is strangely quiet for a sunspot of its size. The calm before the storm? We will find out in two days. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
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18K GOLD SUNFLOWER PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the 18K Gold Sunflower Pendant. On June 3rd, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $169.95. This 18k gold-plated pendant is inscribed with the words: "You are my sunshine." The sunflower's "eye" is a genuine citrine crystal, which sparkles in sunlight even at sea level.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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